The day I was released from prison was New Year's Eve.

My fiancée had promised to pick me up. Instead, she was busy ringing in the New Year with the man she had always loved.

By the time I found my way back home from memory, she was in the middle of a cheering crowd, wrapped in his arms.

"Nancy, Samuel's getting out today. Aren't you going to pick him up?" someone asked.

Nancy Wheeler let out a soft laugh, her red lips curling slightly.

"Pick him up? What's more important, him or New Year's? He's been in there for years. One more day won't kill him."

"Aren't you afraid he'll be angry?"

Colder than the wind and snow outside were Nancy's indifferent words.

"He's the one who made a mistake. What right does he have to be angry? The fact that I was still willing to be with him was already a mercy."

As the words left her mouth, she lifted her gaze, only to meet mine.

The smile froze on her face.

The cold light from inside fell across me, and something in my heart froze with it.

She said she was still willing to have me.

However, I no longer wanted her.

Everything went quiet for a moment, then Nancy Wheeler was the first to come back to her senses. She walked over to me, her steps light and graceful.

I stood there with my short, plain haircut and old, out-of-style clothes, sticking out like a sore thumb on that happy, snowy night. She paused, just for a second, before she gently hugged me.

"Why didn't you wait for me to come get you?"

Her voice was soft and soothing, and for a second, I felt lost in it. However, I could not forget what had just happened, not when it was right in front of my eyes.

"It's okay, I knew the way."

That was a lie. I had waited for her in the snow outside the prison for so long that the guard felt sorry for me and called a car.

Looking past Nancy, I saw the man behind her.

Hank Lawson was sprawled on the couch in his fancy dark grey suit, looking pretty pleased with himself.

When he caught my eye, he quickly hid his annoyance and gave me a polite smile.

"Samuel, what a coincidence that you got out just in time for New Year's. Is it a double celebration?"

He got up, put his arm around Nancy's waist, and looked at me like he was challenging me.

I tried to smile, and Nancy, holding onto Hank with one hand and me with the other, led us to sit in the middle of the crowd.

Hank's buddy caught his eye, got the message, and started to tease me.

"Samuel, is that you? You've changed so much in three years. When you were standing at the door, I thought you were a homeless guy."

Their laughter was loud and harsh. Hank coughed and lightly slapped his friend's back.

"What are you saying, man?”

"We're all friends here. It's just a joke, Samuel. Don't mind it."

Their laughter was louder than the music playing in the background. I felt a storm of feelings inside me and gripped my fingers so tightly they turned white.

When I did not say anything, Nancy gave me a little push, showing her impatience.

"Come on, we're all friends here, it's just a joke. Don't be a downer."

Nancy's words felt like claws tearing at my heart, leaving a deep, throbbing pain.

Everyone else might have thought it was okay to joke, but not Nancy. She was supposed to get it, to always have my back.

However, she was treating my pain like it was just another punchline.

I was afraid I could not hold back my feelings, so I quickly changed the subject.

"Where's my mom?"

Nancy looked guilty for a second, but then she hid it. "She likes it quiet, she's not here. I'll take you to see her some other time."

I nodded. She saw I was shivering and went to get me a coat.

I did not want to be left alone with Hank and the rest, so I made up an excuse to head to the bathroom.

As I was about to splash water on my face, a voice from behind me said, "147."

Without thinking, I spun around and snapped to attention. "Here!"

Hank burst out laughing, a nasty, grating sound.

Water dripped down my face as I glared at him.

"Think that's funny?"

Hank's laughter faded, but his eyes were full of scorn. "Hilarious, really hilarious. I thought today was going to be so dull, right before New Year's."

He pointed at my shoulder and smirked, "Until you, the clown, showed up.”

"Did prison make you that desperate to come out and try to charm Nancy?"

He yanked at my collar, revealing bruises.

"A jailbird and a loser, worse than a stray dog, and you dare to go after Nancy? You're even more shameless than your mom!"

When he brought up my mom, rage filled me. I grabbed his collar and stared him down.

"Clean up your act!"

Hank tipped his chin up at me, a taunting smile playing on his lips, laughter bursting out in short, sharp bursts. "We haven't seen each other in years, and you've gotten even more hot-tempered. What, didn't you enjoy the 'special treatment' I had arranged for you in prison?" he sneered.

My heart lurched as I spotted the ring on his chest: the wedding ring I once shared with Nancy. His eyes gleamed with triumph when he saw me staring. "Nancy's mine. Keep this up, and I'll have you locked up again."

I did not wait for him to finish. My fist flew, connecting with a thump. Hank howled, yanking off the ring and hurling it to the floor.

"Samuel!" Nancy's heels clicked rapidly as she rushed in, her voice sharp. "What's gotten into you?"

She shielded Hank, stopping my next punch cold. Then she shoved me hard, sending me crashing into the sink. I gasped at the sharp pain.

"Nancy, sorry... I forgot to take off the necklace. It made Samuel mad," Hank whined from her arms, his face a picture of fake sorrow.

I bit back my pain, trying to explain, but Nancy cut me off. "Enough, Samuel. You're making me sick. You think I don't know you?”

"Apologize to Hank now, or get out!"

I froze, the ache in my body nothing compared to the sting in my heart.

"Let it go, Nancy. We're all here for the New Year. I don't want to be the one who brings the mood down." Hank said.

She glared at me, her eyes blazing. "If you were half the man Hank is, you'd never have gone to jail."

The one who once loved me was then stabbing at my heart with every word.

She gently lifted Hank to his feet, but she did not even notice as she stepped on the ring beneath her.

I wanted to say so much, but the words just would not come out.

"Stay here and think about what you've done. When you're ready, go say sorry to Hank."

As I walked away, Hank gave me a little smirk.

The bathroom door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Tears burned in my eyes as loud, lively music played outside.

I picked up the diamond ring from the floor. It still sparkled under the lights, but it did not seem as bright as it used to be.

The cheers from outside made my head feel heavier, and my body was burning up.

Before I knew it, I was leaning against the cold wall, slipping into a dream.

In the dream, Nancy held me tight, telling me she believed in me and loved only me.

However, then, everything changed. She was in Hank's arms, calling me "number 147."

I woke up with a start, my forehead slick with cold sweat.

The room looked familiar but felt strange.

It was my old room, with a photo of Nancy and me still by the bed.

"Samuel, you're awake?" Nancy's voice came from beside me. She was peeling an apple, the skin falling away in one long strip.

Her eyes were so kind.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to get you yesterday. I just didn't think you'd be out so soon."

I listened to her weak excuse, my lips tight. I could not even pretend to smile.

"That ring..." She smiled softly. "I lost a bet and had to lend the ring to Hank.”

"However, that ring is old-fashioned. It's not good enough for you. Let's get a better one when we get married."

I had designed that ring for us. How could it be old-fashioned?

Rings were timeless, but her love for me had an expiration date.

My heart fluttered as I took the apple she offered, hesitating.

Just when I thought I was being too sensitive, Nancy's next words chilled me to the bone.

"Now that you're okay, let's go say sorry to Hank."

My heart stumbled. I must have heard her wrong. I stared at her, shocked.

"What did you say?"

Nancy said it again, and I felt wronged. I tried to keep steady, but my voice shook.

"Why should I apologize to him? Do you know what he called me yesterday?"

She massaged her forehead, looking like she had a headache, as if I were the one causing trouble. "It doesn't matter what he called you. You shouldn't have hit him."

I clutched the apple, my voice strained as I argued back. "He called me 147!"

"Aren't you number 147?"

I froze, my heart stopped too. I looked at her, filled with despair and resistance, tears burning in my eyes.

Seeing my eyes turn red, Nancy ran out of patience, her brows furrowed. "Samuel, cut it out. Isn't it gross? Hank didn't cry when you punched him. What's your excuse?"

Her words turned my hurt into anger, and I was consumed by it. In a fury, I hurled the apple at our picture together.

The glass frame shattered in an instant.

"Samuel!" Nancy jumped up, blocking me. The last trace of kindness in her eyes is gone, leaving only deep revulsion. "Do you know the real difference between people and animals?

"People can keep their cool. Animals can't!"

I stood there, shocked, unable to believe that the lips that once spoke to me with love could say the words that cut me deepest.

My heart could not stop the piercing pain.

The room was as quiet as a tomb when Nancy finally broke the silence with her icy voice.

"If you ever want me to marry you, you'll apologize to Hank."

With those words, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

She might still have wanted to marry me, but I did not want to marry her anymore. That was what I was thinking.

The door banged shut, and I felt all my energy drain away. I slumped down, my back no longer straight, resting against the head of the bed.

I did not need a mirror to know my eyes were red and puffy from the mess I was in.

I dragged myself to the bathroom, washed up quickly, and saw the bruises, new ones on top of old, on my skin.

Those three long years in jail, Hank probably knew better than anyone how I got through each day.

When the Windsor Group was about to launch, company secrets leaked to a competitor. Hank, the company lawyer and Nancy's right-hand man, was sure I was the leaker.

Even my fiancée stood by him.

However, I had seen Hank sneaking in and out of my office.

The security footage from that time had mysteriously disappeared, and I was left holding the bag.

Frustrated, I tried to find some clue on my computer, but came up empty.

Lost and confused, I wandered the streets until I found myself in front of the old house where Mom and I used to live.

My dad cheated, and it broke Mom's mind.

I lied and told her I was studying abroad so she would not worry about me being in jail, but it hit her hard. I felt too guilty to face her.

I stood outside that door for ages before I finally knocked. No one answered.

It was not until Linda Morris, the neighbor, came out that I found out Mom had died. All she left me was a Buzz Lightyear toy.

I could not stop shaking my head, standing in the snowy field for what felt like forever, trying and failing to make myself believe what had happened.

Angry and confused, I dialed Nancy's number, eager to ask her why she had not told me the truth.

However, she kept hanging up on me, over and over, until she finally texted me.

[I'm busy. Don't call me again until you're ready to say sorry to Hank.]

Then I saw Hank's new post online. He and Nancy were playing a game and kissing behind a card, both looking so happy.

The post said, [Happy New Year! The lucky number is 147.] He even shared the address of the karaoke place they were at.

My heart raced and anger took over me like a wild animal. When I got to the karaoke room, Nancy was there, laughing and talking with her best friend.

"Nancy, how did you know Samuel would actually say sorry to Hank?" Her friend asked.

Nancy just swirled her wine glass, looking so sure of herself. "Because he wants to marry me."

Cindy Scott, trying to be funny, said, "However, what if you marry Hank? What about Samuel?"

"He's the one who wants to marry me, but I never said I'd definitely say yes," Nancy replied.

Cindy laughed and said, "I knew it. How could a guy who's been in jail ever be good enough for you, Nancy?"

I felt the anger boiling inside me and was about to storm in when Hank's voice stopped me.

"147, it's been a while."